Marquez suffers third loss against Pacquiao

                    (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

In Las Vegas Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez gave the sold-out crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena an intense fight that lasted all 12 rounds. The fight represented boxing at its best filled with sharp punches and jabs but in the end majority rules and Pacquiao came out victorious. Pacquiao has beaten some of the greatest boxers of all time such as Los Angeles "Golden Boy" Oscar De La Hoya. Marquez spoke in an interview after the fight about how disappointed he was and said, "It happened again. I don't think there is much more I can do in the ring."  Promoter Bob Arum is determined to "have a fourth fight, in May of 2012" and Pacquiao has his eyes set on Mayweather. "Let's make the fight happen and give the people a good fight."
Also in the news ESPN reported UFC fighter Junior Dos Santos defeated his opponent Cain Velasquez for the "heavy weight title." The fight lasted exactly 64 seconds in Anaheim, California and Velasquez surrendered his title by getting knocked out in the first round.

-Ashley Maui Lopez

Fans Cheer "We are...Penn State" after loss 17-14

(Photo By Evan/Habeeb/US Presswire)

Fans filled the seats of Beaver Stadium wearing blue from head-to-toe to acknowledge and support the victims of sexual abuse. Loud cheers were heard throughout the stadium for a win against the Nebraska Cornhuskers but instead suffered a disappointing loss. The Lions could not pull out any tricks on the last two drives since time was limited for any new plays. New Coach Tom Bradley spoke in an interview after the game about how pleased he was with his team and "liked the way they stuck together...we fought hard." After the game saddened players walked down the tunnel to the locker room with their heads down while fans broke into chorus cheering "We are...Penn State!!!!!!" 
Also in the news the orange county register reported Cal State University Long Beach "kicked off the 2011-2012" season of men's basketball in Walter Pyramid and came out victorious against Idaho making the final score 69-61.

-Ashley Maui Lopez

The Game of Hoops Meets the Military

(Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times / November 10, 2011)

For the first time in basketball history, the Michigan State versus North Carolina game was held on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson reported the Los Angeles Times. The game was an original idea created by the Athletic Director Mark Hollis. This idea was 10 years in the making. The court was laid piece by piece using a crane onto the carrier starting Wednesday. On Friday, the Secret Service did a sweep through of the premises for the appearance of President Obama at the game. The OC Register had the NBA lockout as the top story. The players were left with an offer from the owners after an 11 hour bargaining. The proposed offer is a 53-47 split going to the League for a 72-game season. The offer will be reviewed and either accepted or declined on Monday.

-Dillon Chang

Mike McQueary on Leave

Key witness in the sex scandal at Penn State, Assistant Coach Mike McQueary was put on administrative leave due to his suspected knowledge. McQueary reportedly told his players that he was under protective custody after he testified against other Assistant Coach Jerry Sanduski. ESPN.com was the only publication to feature this as the top story. Both Los Angeles Times and OC register featured the UCLA Bruins victory over Arizona State. Both the publications proceeded to talk about the huge influence the Quarterback Kevin Prince played. Also in other news, another big topic was the NBA negotiations have continued. The final decision on the fate of the season will be determined on Monday.

-Dillon Chang

Everywhere One Turns, Joe Paterno Appears

The big news today in sports is of course the executive decision to fire both Penn State’s head coach Joe Paterno and Penn State President Graham Spanier for the way the school handled sexual abuse allegations of former Assistant Coach Jerry Sanduski. This news is breaking headlines across the web. According to the Los Angeles Times, a huge controversy is what will happen with the program. "USC football was put on major probation because Reggie Bush's parents were set up in a condo in San Diego. Ohio State awaits sentencing because players sold merchandise for tattoos. Miami may be deep-sixed because a rogue booster lavished players with gifts. Yet, the NCAA probably has no jurisdiction to punish Penn State football for allegedly concealing crimes against young boys,” said Chris Dufresne, writer for the Los Angeles Times. The big question we all want to know: what will the NCAA do?

-Dillon Chang

Dodgers May Have New Owner On The Horizon, But FOX May Stand In The Way

Frank McCourt, (presumably) inside the L.A. County Court House

(Anne Cusak / LA Times)

A co-owner of the Los Angeles Lakers may be in line to become the owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, though admittedly more a fan of basketball than baseball, expressed his "commitment ... to Los Angeles, so whatever helps this continue to be a great city that's what I would be focused to do".
Whoever ends up coming to the aid of the Dodgers knows negotiations will inevitably involve Fox Sports. The Dodgers intend to auction off the team and its television rights separately. This idea does not appeal to Fox Sports. LA Times sports blogger Bill Shaikin wrote, "The Dodgers' current television contract prevents the team from negotiating with any party besides Fox through Nov. 30, 2012."
"We fully support a change in ownership of the Dodgers," wrote Fox spokesman, Chris Bellitti, Tuesday via email. "Fox has rights that cannot be violated.... Those rights were negotiated and paid for by us and approved by MLB."

-Al K

Magic's HIV Announcement: 20 Years Later

Magic Johnson Reflects On His Retirement Announcement

(Paul Bersebach, The Orange Country Register)

Twenty years ago today, Earvin "Magic" Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers announced that he would be retiring after contracting HIV.

At the time, for a professional athlete to have contracted this disease was so shocking that many people remember where they were when the heard the news.

Johnson is the most well-known Laker in the team’s history, and not for a painful chapter in his life. Johnson was known for his great stature (at 6 feet 9 inches) and “superior passing skills,” which helped his team earn nine NBA conference titles and five championships.

Johnson had inspiration to walk a road lasting nearly twice as long as his professional career: Elizabeth Glaser, a woman who “contracted HIV through a blood transfusion”.

“The thing she asked me to do before she died was to become the face of the disease,” Johnson reflected, “so I told her I would and I have.”


-Al K